Pastor's Note on Applebee's Receipt Goes Viral

Smartphone photo of the pastor's receipt with a note. Reddit via Consumerist

On January 25, a pastor decided to leave no tip on her bill at a St. Louis Applebee's. What the pastor objected to was the restaurant's suggested 18 percent tip. So she decided not to give any gratuity to her Applebee's waitress. The pastor explained on her receipt why. "I give to God 10%. Why do you get 18?" By this Wednesday the receipt and the story had become viral.

The waitress took a picture of the note and posted it online with the pastor's name clearly visible. When the pastor found out, she complained to the restaurant manager. Applebee's fired the waitress. Who should feel wronged here? The pastor or the waitress?

Answer: The pastor.

If this happened in your restaurant, particularly one in a nationally branded chain, where the problem of one unit can harm the reputation of so many other owners and their employees, you would have to fire the wayward waitress too. Customers need to feel secure in their privacy and in their right to not leave a tip. That's only right. Right?